Sandown Preview: Producer can deliver the goods in Fortune Stakes

The Richard Hannon trained colt was a three-time winner last year, including a Group 3 contest at Newmarket and a Group 2 in Turkey.

Although Producer is yet to get his head in front this season, the son of Dutch Art has posted some solid efforts in Group company.

They include a cracking 3 1/4 length fifth of 10 to stablemate Toronado in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and a decent second to Captain Cat three starts back at Salisbury in the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes.

Those runs are head and shoulders above what any of this afternoon’s rivals have achieved, and it will be disappointing if Producer cannot take advantage of a drop into Listed company to get back to winnings ways in what looks a weak contest for the grade.

Rocket Rob has a superb record at the track and looks weighted to take all the beating in the 5f handicap the kicks-off proceedings (2.00).

The Willie Musson trained gelding has won four of his nine races over course and distance, with the last of those last of those successes coming 12 months ago off a mark of 75.
The eight-year-old is now running off 7lb lower, and his current rating of 68 is his lowest in nearly six years.

It gives Rocket Rob outstanding claims from a handicapping perspective, especially now returned to his favourite stomping ground for the first time since when last successful.
In the 1m 2f handicap (4.45), Shama’s Crown has the potential to make a mockery of her opening mark of 80.

The superbly bred daughter of New Approach shaped with bags of promise when runner-up on debut and looked a smart performer in the making when going one better at Windsor last time out.

The Jeremy Noesda trained filly only had to be ridden out to score by a comfortable two lengths, and was value for far more than the winning margin having raced wide throughout.

It was an effort which suggested Shama’s Crown needing keeping firmly onside, and she is certainly bred to be much better than an 80-rated handicapper.